Joey Feek’s Public Memorial Full of Laughter, Applause and Song

Joey Feek’s hometown planned to celebrate the late Joey + Rory singer’s life on Sunday (March 13), and it was quite a celebration. Hundreds of fans and friends turned up for the public memorial in Alexandria, Ind.

Video captured by those in attendance shows the spirit of the gathering.

Some brought signs, while others brought flameless candles to Alexandria-Monroe High School, from which Joey Feek graduated in 1994. US Weekly reports that family friend Bill Gaither spoke first, reminiscing on Feek’s active childhood. A few minutes later Rory joined him on stage to lead the audience in a spirited version of “Lean on Me,” a favorite of Joey’s.

Jerry Young, the pastor who baptized Joey was there, and spoke warmly about the 40-year-old who died on March 4 after a long battle with cancer. He then gave Rory Joey’s high school varsity jacket, which the husband and father put on.

“This is the place that Joey played basketball,” he said. “She loved playing here. This place taught her a lot of lessons, but what she really lettered in was love.”

Joey’s mother June Martin came to the stage later, and let the congregation through another song, “Close to Thee.” The public memorial comes five days after Joey was buried on family property in Tennessee. Rory shared photos and details from that event in a recent This Life I Live blog.